Chamberlain College of Nursing NR 506 Health Care TD

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NR 506 Healthcare Policy Week 1, TD1 The Four Spheres of Political Action in Nursing. Please discuss the four spheres of political action in nursing. In addition, please develop a brief argument sha... ring how these spheres are interconnected and overlapping by applying an example from your practice. Nursing should not consist of only the monotonous tasks completed to provide basic patient care, but rather nursing today is multidimensional where nurses are responsible for the protection, promotion, and prevention of disease or injury for individuals, families, communities, and population. For this reason, nurses have the opportunity to become politically involved impacting and improving the level of care that they are able to provide. According to Chaffee, Mason, & Leavitt (2014), the four spheres of political action in nursing include workplace or workforce, government, professional organization, and community. Each of these sphere have their own independent functions, but they can also overlap and affect the other sphere working together to create changes. Workplace sphere addresses issues regarding jobs and patient care, as well as influencing policies and procedures. It can be in any setting like acute care, home care, nursing homes, school based clinics, occupational health clinics, and physician’s office. Government sphere addresses laws and regulations regarding practice, as well as influencing local, state, and national policies. Government actions can consists of laws requiring to keep birth records, immunizations, legal establishment of drinking age, laws determining what health services people are eligible for at certain age. Government has grown bigger and centralized, which plays a important role in nursing. Government also influences systems for healthcare, and nursing service, and determines who receives what type of health services. Professional organizations sphere addresses the many areas that shape the practice ofnursing, as well as influence practice standards, and credentialing. Professional organizations should be a visible force within its community, and must have a national presence. Professional organizations take a leadership role on calling for the development of policies that can improve the health of the communities, and ensure the provision of quality nursing care. Community sphere addresses issues regarding community health as well as influencing the activity throughout the community. Community includes special interest organizations like habitat for humanity, food banks, community organizations, and county workforce centers. Nurses have the responsibility to promote the welfare of the community, and its members. Nurses visible in the community represent the entire profession. Nurses are capable of influencing policy making in order to improve problems in the community and healthcare system. Literature often shows that nurses view themselves as politically powerless. They see their role at the bedside as a technical activity, not a political opportunity. What nurses do not realize is the very act of being a nurse makes one politically involved (Cameron, Ceci, & Salas, 2011). An example from my practice is banned smoking at the campus of my hospital, which is a community hospital. Political spheres includes the workplace and community, possibly government with the federally mandated health insurance laws rolling out. This is important as the negative effects of smoking and second hand smoke are well documented, and patients requiring hospitalized care do not need to be exposed. Reference: Cameron, B., Ceci, C., & Salas, A. S. (2011). Nursing and the Political. Nursing Philosophy,12(3), 153-155. doi:10.1111/j.1466-769X.2011.00499.x. Chaffee, M. W., Mason, D. J., & Leavitt, J. K. (2014). A Framework for Action in Policy and Politics. Policy & Politics in Nursing and Health Care, 1. Week 1, TD2 A wave of pandemic illness can host a variety of ethical considerations. Please apply the importance of ethics to the process of policymaking regarding pandemic outbreak and other future pandemic issues. [Show More]

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